The bereaved family of the late Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun's side are exchanging conflicting claims over the cancellation of the popular current affairs program "Curious Story Y".
On the 1st, Bu Ji-seok, a lawyer at Law Firm Buyou who is legally representing Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family, said SBS's "Curious Story Y" conducted an interview four days before the scheduled broadcast but it was suddenly canceled, and that despite the investigation agency's recommendation to refrain from contacting the press, they agreed to the interview after much deliberation.
Bu Ji-seok said, "We provided some materials indicating that Kim Sae-ron dated actor Kim Soo-hyun when she was a minor and at the same time requested that the program handle the matter impartially. And the SBS producer said they would grant rebuttal rights to attorney Go Sang-rok on Tuesday, Nov. 11, the day after our interview, and we confirmed that some of the materials we provided were presented to attorney Go Sang-rok as is. But on Wednesday, Nov. 12, two days before the broadcast, we suddenly received notice that the program was canceled."
Attorney Go Sang-rok welcomed my interview on his YouTube channel from the early stages of his appointment, repeatedly demanding that Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family disclose their position and evidence. However, Go Sang-rok, who went so far as to welcome my interview, after seeing some of the materials we presented through the SBS producer, suddenly changed his stance and told us not to disclose the materials, and unilaterally engaged in threatening media plays such as saying he would take civil and criminal action if the bereaved family disclosed the materials or that disclosure would be grounds for arrest," he alleged, adding, "Despite the investigation agency's recommendation to refrain from contacting the press, as Go Sang-rok's excessive media play continued, Kim Sae-ron's mother issued her first statement via a press release on Nov. 26.
He added, "Attorney Go Sang-rok welcomed my interview on his YouTube channel from the early stages of his appointment, repeatedly demanding that Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family disclose their position and evidence. However, Go Sang-rok, who went so far as to welcome my interview, after seeing some of the materials we presented through the SBS producer, suddenly changed his stance and told us not to disclose the materials, and unilaterally engaged in threatening media plays such as saying he would take civil and criminal action if the bereaved family disclosed the materials or that disclosure would be grounds for arrest. Despite the investigation agency's recommendation to refrain from contacting the press, as Go Sang-rok's excessive media play continued, Kim Sae-ron's mother issued her first statement via a press release on Nov. 26," and attached Kim Sae-ron's mother's statement.
The bereaved family also alleged, "Attorney Go Sang-rok, immediately after confirming the memo through the SBS producer on Tuesday, Nov. 11, said in a post on his YouTube channel that the memo did not contain the word 'military.' After Kim Sae-ron's mother publicly released, via a press release on Nov. 26, a memo dated Sept. 28, 2017, extracted through forensics that contained the word 'military,' Go Sang-rok again tried to frame the bereaved family by claiming there were two versions, asserting evidence manipulation."
Bu Ji-seok, who released recordings and transcripts of conversations with the SBS producer of "Curious Story Y," said, "Attorney Go Sang-rok saw the same memo dated Sept. 28, 2017, extracted through forensics and released by Kim Sae-ron's mother on Nov. 26 through the SBS producer on Nov. 11, but due to his own mistake he failed to see the word 'military' and was mistaken, and instead framed us again for manipulation," adding, "I earnestly ask attorney Go Sang-rok not to frame us for manipulation for his career and to wait for the investigation agency's forthcoming results."
Later, Kim Soo-hyun's attorney, Go Sang-rok, rebutted, saying, "I had neither the power to stop the broadcast nor did I attempt to do so."
On the 1st, attorney Go Sang-rok posted on his personal YouTube channel, "It seems Bu Ji-seok has now decided to focus entirely on 'messenger attacks,' which are far from the essence of the case," adding, "If you intended to release position statements three times since last week, stop repeating nonessential claims that obscure the essence of the case with media play, and first answer the five key questions below that I have consistently requested." He divided them into A through E and posed detailed questions.
Regarding the cancellation of SBS's "Curious Story Y," he said, "I have no power to stop the broadcast, nor have I ever tried to do so. I was merely notified by the broadcaster of its decision to postpone the broadcast, and I actually said I would be reassured if the rebuttal was properly included." He added, "Accordingly, I am disclosing to the minimum extent the parts concerning the inaccuracies that attorney Bu Ji-seok asserted, based on my phone call with the responsible producer immediately after I conducted the rebuttal interview on Nov. 11 and my call with the writer the following day," and attached transcripts.
Attorney Go Sang-rok also urged, "I once again call on attorney Bu Ji-seok to answer the five key points. Stop the media play with nonessential false and distorted claims and wait for the investigation results."
Attorney Go said he revealed the recorded transcripts of calls with the PD and writer of "Curious Story Y" in sequence and said he learned at that time that the broadcast had been postponed. He added, "I expect the writer would not want their remarks disclosed, and since it's not necessary for countering Bu Ji-seok's false claims, I will only disclose my parts to the extent needed. If necessary, I will publish the disclosed recording sections on YouTube."
In this regard, SBS's "Curious Story Y" said, "It is true that we conducted coverage on the late Kim Sae-ron and Kim Soo-hyun episode. However, after internal discussion following the reporting, the production team decided not to broadcast it, saying both sides' opinions were reasonable and that reconstructing the content in a broadcast would not be of great significance, so it was difficult to air." The program said that because it decides whether to air after reporting, this cancellation was not unique to this case.
Meanwhile, the late Kim Sae-ron was found dead at her home in Seongdong District, Seoul, on Feb. 16. Afterwards, the bereaved family held a press conference claiming the deceased had dated Kim Soo-hyun for about six years from her time as a minor.
In response, Kim Soo-hyun's side acknowledged that he had dated Kim Sae-ron in the past but firmly drew the line that he did not date her while she was a minor. At a press conference, Kim Soo-hyun said, "Dating during her minor years is not true," and denied that the KakaoTalk messages from 2016 and 2018 were exchanged by him.
Currently, Kim Soo-hyun's side has filed lawsuits for defamation and damages against the bereaved family and YouTubers, intensifying the legal battle, and Kim Sae-ron's bereaved family has countersued Kim Soo-hyun for violation of the Child Welfare Act and false accusation, continuing the dispute over the truth.
[photo] OSEN DB
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